Happy ;-)

Well, at last classes are over and some of you are on the verge of finishing this academic year after doing the finals and passing them with flying colours ... or not.

I must admit that I'm extremely happy with the fact that this course is almost finished. However, you must bear in mind that for me, the worst part has begun: correcting and grading tests, hours of reading your writings, ... Anyway, it's not worth complaining about it -it's part of my job and I like it as well.

The thing is that since I got up this morning, I can't stop humming this song, the one I want you to listen to now if you want to share my happiness ...

Do you like it? Leave your comments on how it makes you feel.

Up we Go!!!

Some days ago, I got the following text via email from a teacher in the EOI Segovia. I thanked her for it straightaway -it made me smile once again and now I want to share it with you.

When we are about to start tests, those horrible moments in which you have to prove that you have learnt some English throughout this academic year, cope with your nerves and feel confident, I'll bring UP one of my favourite moments spent in El Espinar and if you keep reading, you'll find out why ...

Going UP

I never knew one word in the English language that can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition: "UP" Be sure to read until the end... You'll laugh. This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v]. It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.  At other times, this little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.  And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning, but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.  If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.  When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it soaks UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now . . ... My time is UP! Oh . . . one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night? U P! Did that one crack you UP? Don't screw UP. Send this on to everyone you look UP in your address book . . . Or not . . . It's UP to you.  Now I'll shut UP! So cheer UP and get in bright spirits to do your best at school the following days!!!  Good Luck!!!

If at first you don't succeed, ...

As you already know this is a well-known saying but in case those pupils in the second level don't remember the ending of it, this is how it ends ...

Source: ambermaybe.com

Here's a video that encourages us to try and try again even when we are not successful the first, the second or even the third time.

In case you haven't heard from this Manisfesto HOLSTEE, here's a bit of their story. Holstee is a design studio from Brooklyn devoted to produce eco-friendly and sustainable goods such as stationery, posters, cards, frames, etc, that try to inspire people to live more happily and aware of the things we are surrounded by. This studio has survived hard times and that's why they want people to value life as it is.

I think that life and time have turned me into an incurable optimist who always sees the glass half full. A new person who thinks there's nothing in life so dreadful so as to give up because things are always bound to improve. What about you? Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person? Do you agree with the Holstee Manifesto? Why / Why not? Leave your comments.

A Life Skill

Hi there,

For the first entry in this new year, and on a special day for me, let's review one of the topics we have been dealing with: success and its secrets. We've talked about what makes the most successful people on the planet different from the rest of us. We all agreed with the fact that practice, hard work and a bit of natural talent are key factors to be high achievers.

In this entry, we are going to listen to Chris Hadfield, the former commander of the International Space Station, talking about his experiences and what life skills have been essential for him to survive both up in space and back down here on Earth. 

For those who haven't heard of Chris Hadfield, I must say that there has been no other astronaut quite like him. Along these years, we have been learning how life in space is like. He has managed to teach us several facts about gravity and answer many of our questions. He has shown us how to shave or brush one's teeth in zero gravity; he was able to make a burrito or a peanut butter sandwich. We didn't know how astronauts sleep until he showed it and he even performed David Bowie's Space Oddity out there. Undoubtedly, he's a skilful man.

He has also written about his experience in his book, an Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. 

I'm eager to read your comments on this topic. Try to leave your comment if you haven't done it before and you'll succeed in your English.